Information about a company.

[Jacob Bradsell]

Hi, I'm just now getting into ARMA with John Bentley in Mobile, and had a question regarding a company. I was looking at places that had training swords, and found www.atlantacutlery.com It has wooden longswords, and they're cheaper than most other places I've looked at. So my question is, has anyone bought anything from them, and were there any problems if you did?

[Rod-Thornton]

Hi Jacob. Like you I came here looking for advice as well re: buying a waster (or wooden training sword). There are a number of good threads on the subject, and plenty of experiences people will share. Just search the forums here. I had bought a commercial one from Carina at Raven Studios (find them online) and also made one from oak on a table-saw from 3/4 straight-grain stock. Both performed well. Experiences from postings here suggested that the atlantic cutlery ones (MRL, or museum replica wooden ones) do not hold up very well or reliably. I personally have not seen an Atlantic Cutlery one, but have read here they are dissappointing. Now the Raven Studios ones I WILL vouch for.... choice of hardwoods, but I chose hickory with heartwood handle. Good luck and welcome!

[Ben Strickling]

I have used one of those. I borrowed it for a while before my Raven arrived. They're very light and not sturdy at all. Not at all up to what we do at ARMA. Raven's good, though, and like Rod I've had a lot of success making my own. Good Luck.

[Jaron Bernstein]

I suggest Raven or New Stirling, having used both a lot. NSA ones are a bit more delicate, but have wonderful handling. Ravens are very solid. Both are well made.

[Allen Johnson]

I'm pretty sure the Atlanta Cutlery wasters are the same as the MRL ones. If so then they are really bad. I remember seeing one break after the second hit. Literally. Just not worth it. You'd be better off with a dowel rod. NSA has my favorite bid at this point.

[Stacy Clifford]

I remember one of the saddest things I have ever seen was when a guy at one of our events in Atlanta a few years ago had a brand new, never used butterwood waster from MRL. John was trying to demonstrate something and had him stand in pflug and gave the waster a big smack with a horizontal cut. On the first strike it ever received, the last third of the blade flew twenty feet away. We all just kind of stood there slack-jawed for a minute. Talk about a waste of 60 bucks. Hickory is definitely the way to go.

[Jake_Norwood]

Atlanta Cutlery owns MRL. Same company.

Jake

[s_taillebois]

M. Bransell,
As already noted, MRL/Atlanta cutlery wasters do tend to be fairly easy to break. However, if you wish to use them, a few modifications might be advisible.
On the 'blade' might take a strip of canvas, wrap it around and glue it down. Granted this will tend to drag when warding, but it makes the 'blade' somewhat stronger. And less prone to piroette off into the neighbors yard, dog or wife. The cross on these is also a bit weak, so might take the same canvas and wrap it across that area in a diagonal pattern. The pommels are glued on rather than pinned or doweled well, as so with a hard hit, will tend to go away. Don't have any suggestions on that problem.
Have used MRL wasters, and broke quite a few, but the aforementioned modifications do seem to help the lifespan.
MRL/Atlanta cutlery do have the advantage of being easy to get, and fairly cheap...but some of their products are very varient in quality. (Wish they'd get more consistant, as they do make some nice products. And due to their large marketing presence, they could be instrumental in spreading more interest in historical fencing...)

[Erich Wagner]

Or you could spend your money on a waster that you don't need to modify at all to get good performance. Giving money to a company that produces a bad product only encourages them to continue making that bad product.

[Randall Pleasant]

I agree. I'm not paying my money for anything that I know I will have to fix.

[s_taillebois]

No doubt about the quality issues and MRL wasters. My statements were largely directed to the changes needed to their equipment to provide somewhat more durability.
However, it is likely there will be more questions on the matter. Simply because, as far as sales numbers, the people at MRL seem to be one of the larger distributors. As such, many will first become exposed to this discipline/sport via their marketing presence. So if someone buys MRL stuff, oh well, at least they got a start.
But...that's another reason why it would be nice if MRL kept their quality more consistant.
Wasters, much of what is practiced could be done as with handmades as well, not exactly like the means to build one is a lost art, or some unrevealed trade secret.
In the past, it seems that odd things such as baleen were also used for practice implements. But fairly little is marketed in a modern material which would be equivalent. Although such would seem to be ideal...stiff enough for use, but with some flex for safety.
But this is a discipline/sport with a very small number of adherents, and so not much market impetus to provide a wider range of alternatives in training gear and other implements. Alas gentry, the katana, bo and lord knows what else...contingent...vastly outnumber those studying Renn. swords, staffs and such...

[Jacob Bradsell]

Thank you everyone for the information, I had a feeling that the quality would be less because of the price. I've looked over Raven Studios and will probably end up ordering from them, until then I'll try and find a dowel at Lowe's or somewhere.